SR890: SR890 Senate Study Committee on Protecting Free and Fair Markets in Georgia; create

26 LC 59 0478S (SCS) Senate Resolution 890 By: Senators Halpern of the 39th, Goodman of the 8th, Orrock of the 36th, Parent of the 44th, Hufstetler of the 52nd and others ADOPTED SENATE A RESOLUTION Creating the Senate Study Committee on Protecting Free and Fair Markets in Georgia; and1 for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, markets operating under fair and free competition without the undue influence3 of highly concentrated economic power is necessary for affordability; and4 WHEREAS, over the last half-century, economic power has become concentrated in the5 hands of the world's wealthiest individuals and corporations; and6 WHEREAS, small businesses power Georgia's economy, drive innovation, create jobs, and7 help new generations achieve the American Dream; and8 WHEREAS, the agriculture industry generates over $100 billion f or Georgia; however,9 concentration among agricultural companies and corporate farms has slowly eroded the10 business of family farms and threatens to make such businesses extinct; and11 WHEREAS, increased concentration of economic power among a few individuals and12 corporations threatens small businesses and the ability of new generations to achieve13 economic opportunity and upward mobility; and14 S. R. 890 - 1 - 26 LC 59 0478S (SCS) WHEREAS, such concentration of economic power threatens consume rs by limiting15 competition, reducing choice, s tifling innovation, and driving up prices across numerous16 sectors of the economy; and17 WHEREAS, ownership of single-family homes, the bedrock of middl e-class wealth, has18 increasingly shifted toward large corporate entities and instit utional investors, reducing19 housing availability and affordability for Georgia families; and20 WHEREAS, technology corporations have rapidly expanded over the last 30 years and21 increasingly dominate digital platforms used by Georgians for communication, commerce,22 and civic engagement, raising concerns about market dominance and the effects of private23 corporate control over spaces that function as modern public squares; and24 WHEREAS, states have recently enhanced their own antitrust enfo rcement mechanisms,25 merger review processes, and competition policies to address rising economic concentration26 and protect consumers and small businesses; and27 WHEREAS, Georgia has an opportunity to evaluate and strengthen its own antitrust28 enforcement mechanisms in order to protect competition, consumers, home ownership, free29 enterprise, and the fundamental rights of Georgians; and30 WHEREAS, a study committee is needed to determine how antitrust enforcement and31 competition policy have evolved in other states and any legislative or policy changes Georgia32 may adopt to better safeguard its citizens from monopolistic behavior and unfair methods of33 competition.34 S. R. 890 - 2 - 26 LC 59 0478S (SCS) NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:35 (1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Study Committee36 on Protecting Free and Fair Markets in Georgia.37 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the38 Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate. The Pre sident shall designate a39 legislative member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.40 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,41 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto, including but not limited to:42 (A) The current scope and effectiveness of Georgia's antitrust statutes and enforcement43 authority;44 (B) The degree of economic concentration in key sectors affect ing Georgians,45 including housing, technology platforms, agriculture, healthcare, and retail markets;46 (C) The impact of institutional ownership of single-family hom es on housing47 affordability and availability in this state;48 (D) Antitrust enforcement and merger review processes adopted by other states;49 (E) Potential legislative, regulatory, or enforcement mechanisms that could enhance50 competition and protect consumers, small businesses, and home ownership in Georgia;51 and52 (F) Any constitutional or statutory considerations implicated by proposed reforms.53 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee54 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or55 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and56 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.57 (5) Allowances, expenses, and funding.58 (A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided59 for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.60 S. R. 890 - 3 - 26 LC 59 0478S (SCS) (B) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member61 of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds62 necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds63 appropriated to the Senate.64 (6) Report.65 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that66 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the67 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to68 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.69 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for70 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)71 of this paragraph.72 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of73 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.74 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with75 the Secretary of the Senate.76 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary77 of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.78 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.79 S. R. 890 - 4 -